Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to enhance tactical air support for the Deep Blue Project.
Mobereola made the appeal during a visit to the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie.
Speaking with the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, Mobereola described the Air Force as a strategic partner in sustaining maritime security gains.
“We are here to seek the Air Force’s support, given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project.
“Nigeria is the only African country with zero piracy in four years. Deep Blue platforms achieved this in the Gulf of Guinea. We need collaboration to sustain it,” he said.
He noted that international trade depends heavily on maritime security, as vessels prefer safer routes where safety is guaranteed.
“With current traffic, we must project stronger security through collaboration to enhance trade viability, given risks along our route.
“We need these partnerships to sustain achievements recorded under the Deep Blue Project,” Mobereola added.
The NIMASA boss expressed confidence that closer collaboration with the Air Force would significantly reduce response times to maritime threats.
In response, Air Marshal Aneke said the Air Force was ready to work “step by step and side by side” with NIMASA to achieve shared goals.
He proposed strengthening collaboration through a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures and the establishment of a standing steering committee to ensure accountability.
Aneke also suggested creating a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing and faster responses within Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to him, the Air Force could deploy its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, provide tactical air support and undertake rapid airborne deployments for interdictions and search and rescue missions.
He thanked NIMASA for providing basic training to Air Force pilots under the Deep Blue Project but highlighted operational challenges such as communication gaps, the need for advanced maintenance training, aircraft fuelling delays and shortages of flying kits.
Mobereola pledged to address the concerns, assuring that renewed collaboration would significantly accelerate progress in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.